Adjustable prop



Sept. 1, 1931. H. G. SCHUL S'i'ADT ADJUS TABLE PROP Filed April 10, 1928 any/3Y5- 5 NVENTOR Patented Sept. 1, 1931' PATENT OFFICE HUGO G. SCHULSTADT, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY ADJUSTABLE PROP Application filed April 10,

This invention relates to devices for temporarily supporting miscellaneous objects as applied to the ceilings of rooms and other purposes of a similar over-head nature.

In attaching plate-like cover elements, it is customary to provide a stage for the convenience of the operators, one of whommay hold the various objects in an appropriate position, and the other applying fastening means by which they are secured in an adj usted position, the same having reference to the application of panels, moldings, and cornices by plasterers and like artisans or in decorating the ceiling by the use of stencils, such operations being extremely tedious and fatiguing.

The present invention is directed to means facilitating such operations, and by which the articles to be appliedare held firmly against the ceiling so that the application can be made by one person. v

A further it'eature is'in the provision of an adjustable prop, one portion of which may be disposed upon the scaffolding, and the 1 other arranged to firmly hold articles to be applied in their adjusted position under the action of a spring, arranged intermediate the prop elements.

Another aim is to produce a prop capable of length adjustment and having'at its upper end a yielding support contactable with the articles by which they are efiiciently held in place. 4

These and other objects, including cheap- 1 ness of construction, and simplicity of parts,

are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing,

forming a material part of this disclosure,

' and in which,':

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the invention indicating its use. 7 i T Figure 2 is a partial elevational, partial 1928. Serial No. 268,849.

sectional view of the same drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view taken at right angles to the showing of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2. v

Figure 5 is, a similar sectional View taken on line 55 of Figure 2.

A portion of a conventional type of scaftold is designated in Figure 1 by the numeral 10, and a plate 11 at the top of the same figure represents an element to be attached to a ceiling 12.

i The device consists primarily of a wooden beam 14 of oblong rectangular cross section, this beam being cut away at the center of its lower portion to produce a rectangular slot 15, lined with metal strips 16 on its opposite sides, and constituting a cha-m- 6 her in the upper portion of which is secured a plug 17 having a depending stem 18 of circular cross section.

Fixed to the stem 18 is the upper end of a hclically coiled expansion spring 19, engaged at its lower end with the rounded stem 20 of a rectangular bar 21 provided with an acute point 22 at its outer extremity, the same being adapted to engage on top of the Season 10. a 7

Surrounding the lower portion of the beam 14, in amanner to cover the chamber 15 and parts enclosed therein, is a sheet metal casing 23 formed of two equal parts, which may be secured to the beam by any convenient holding means, as the nails shown.

The upper portion of the beam 14 is likewise enclosed in a casing 24, freely slidable 35 on the beam which has a series of transverse openings 25 receptive of a pin 26 when passed through a single opening 25 in the side elements of the casin 24, and is provided with an eye to which is attached a 9 edges to receive a block 28 mounted upon a pivot- 29 passing through the sides of the casing, the pivot being threaded at one end to engage a hand nut 30 so as to clamp the block 28 therein if desired.

It is to be noted that one of the side edges 24 of the casing is cut to a point further a ng- Obviously more than one of these props from the pivot 29 than the opposite side, thus permitting the block to assume limited angular positions therein.

In operation the scaffold having been disposed in position below such part of the ceiling it is intended to operate on, the pin 26 is rem0ved, permitting the casing 24 to be moved up or down on the beam 14 until an approximate adjustment has been attained, whereupon the pin is placed in position in such manner that the action of the spring 19 will be exerted to press the element 21 downward and the block 28 upward and with sufiicient'force to hold the article to be attached in position against the ceilmay be used at one and the same time if deemed desirable, and it will be clear that the action of the props is efficient, dispensing with the services of a helper in performing such operations.

, It is to be noted that due to the lightness in weight of the entire structure that should one become accidentally displaced and fall, little or no damage will ensue, and also due to the same reason the props can be readily moved from one position to another as required.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the ex- 7 erc1se of invention or confl1ct1ng w1th the scope of the claims hereto appended. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is

, 1. An adjustable prop comprising a beam of rectangular cross-section having a recess in its lower portion provided with guides, a casing rigidly secured to the lower portion of the beam, a bar slidable between said guides and extending outwardly below the beam at its bottom, said bar having a spur at its extremity, means in the recess to press the beam and bar in opposite directions, a

' casing adjustably mounted on the upper portion of said beam, and a block pivotally mounted 1n the upper end of said casing, said casing bemgxprovided with a recessed portion at the upper end thereof to receive one end of the block and limit the movement thereof.

a bar having a part guided in said recess, a

stem on said bar, an expansion spring in said recess engaged at its opposite ends by said stems, to press the beam and bar 111 opposite directions, and a pivoted block adjustably secured to said beam.

This specification signed this ninth day of April, 1928..

' HUGO G. SCHULSTADT. 

